Plumbing and electrical installations are essential components of home renovations, and the choice of wire is crucial. Single-core and multi-core wires are commonly used in homes, primarily copper wires. They offer excellent conductivity, low resistance, and superior electrical performance, making them more stable and reliable. However, single-core and multi-core wires differ in structure, offering distinct functions and advantages. Today, we'll discuss single-core wires and the differences between them.
Overview of Single-Core Wires
Single-core wires have only one conductor between the insulation layers. They are typically used for voltages exceeding 35 kV, and single-core cables are often used. The relationship between the core and metal shield can be compared to the relationship between the coil and the iron core in a transformer's primary winding. When current flows through the core of a single-core cable, magnetic flux interconnects the aluminum or metal shield, generating an induced voltage across it.
Single-core copper wire has low resistance and a greater load capacity than multi-core copper wire. For general lighting and socket wiring, use 2.5 mm², while air conditioning wiring should be no less than 4 mm². Use green and yellow for wiring. For the switch wire (live wire), use red, white, black, purple, or any other color. Single-core copper wire is often double-insulated with plastic, while hard wire is often single-stranded and is typically used for high currents; it has a strong texture.
Single-core Wire Classifications
Single-core wires include BV, RV, and BVV. BVR is a multi-core wire made of flexible material and consisting of many fine copper strands intertwined.
Single-core Wire Colors
Common single-core wire colors include red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, two-color (yellow and green), and brown.
Differences Between Single-core and Multi-core Wires
1. Advantages of single-core copper wire include: strong tensile strength, resistance to mildew and breakage, strong surge current resistance, and easy shaping. Disadvantages include: poor flexibility, poor breakage resistance, poor skin resistance, and poor heat dissipation.
2. Advantages of multi-core copper wire: Good flexibility, better heat dissipation, good skin resistance, and good breakage resistance. Disadvantages: Poor tensile strength, prone to mold and breakage, poor surge current resistance, and inconvenient shaping.
Single-strand wire is stiffer and more conductive, but it can be more difficult to install. Sometimes, accidentally folding the wire twice can cause it to break, making it difficult to inspect. Twisting the wire too hard when installing switches and sockets can also cause it to break. Multi-strand wire is more practical and less prone to breakage.
3. Single-core is best for fixed wiring, while multi-core is better for mobile wiring. Single-core copper wire is better for downpipe wiring. Is open wiring or multi-core better?
When choosing electrical wiring for home renovations, many people struggle with the question of which type is best. The differences between single-core and multi-core wire described above should give everyone some answers. Each type of wire has its unique advantages. There's no single best type; it's more about which is most suitable. Therefore, when choosing wires, you should pay attention to choosing the most correct one based on the actual situation.
